If you’ve ever wondered about the feet and/or slippers of a ballerina, check out this video.  It will make your feet ache.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152317467657844&fref=nf

The Pacific Northwest Ballet company has started its 2014-15 season off with a bang.

George Balanchine, co-founder and founding choreographer of the New York City Ballet, created “Jewels.” It premièred on Thursday, April 13, 1967, at the New York State Theater.  Considered the first abstract ballet, since it has no story, it has three related movements entitled “Emeralds,” “Rubies,” and “Diamonds.” Each movement is set to the music of a different composer:  Gabriel Fauré,  Igor Stravinsky, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky respectively.

The first act or gem in the Balanchine suite is the emerald, which just happens to be my favorite jewel on this planet. With this dance, Balanchine said he meant to capture the essence of French culture.

I love an unexpected view on anything, including ballet.

I’ve been lucky enough to attend two rehearsals recently, one dress, and, at the other one, I was able to sit 10 feet away from the renowned dancer, Edward Villella, who I used to watch on television as I was growing up. Mr. Villella was here to coach the dancers set to perform the “Rubies.”  It is amazing to consider the direct connection this provides for PNB dancers, for Mr. Balanchine had Villella in mind as he composed that dance.

Here is a photo of the handsome Mr. Villella.

And here he is in “Rubies” back in the day.

Balanchine intended for “Rubies” to evoke American culture, with its syncopated rhythms.

And, here is Villella in another dance, his outstanding abilities immediately apparent.

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And now, for “Diamonds.” Below is a video of two of the PNB dancers in rehearsal for it.  I love watching a rehearsal even more than the finished ballet.  It makes me see the skills these incredible dancers possess. The final product is enjoyable as well, of course, but there is just something immediate and wonderful about seeing a rehearsal!

And now for some stills from “Diamonds.” The pas de deux.

The prima ballerina.

Pirouette right on over to the Seattle Center asap to catch this beautiful performance of “Jewels!”